Thank you Lee for your invitation.
To introduce myself: I am Crystal Mary Lindsey
Prior going to live in America, I had misconceived ideas about Americans.
How wrong I found myself to be.
Yes! Americans are very patriotic. So much so that in their schools they hardly learn anything about any other country accept their own. That is where their power has come from, and that is why they are the strength they are today. They unite together.
There can be good said about this, and there can be bad.
When you don't know any better, then you believe you are the best.
This is a recipe for two things.
Being positive and successful, or, being ignorant.
My husband Ray is American. I didn't know him very well before I met him in person over there.
He knew nothing about Australia.
I told him I wanted him to come back here to meet my family.
Before he came he told everyone how backward we Australians were.
I didn't say too much in return accept, "Well, you'll see."
From the first day he arrived, he felt the freedom of this great land.
Then he began to tell me how more advanced we were in many things.
Electricity was one of these.
America isn't much older in white inhabitants than Australia is.
They fought earlier in the piece to free their country from the British, while we remain united.
The size of the USA is almost the same as Australia.
Their population is approximately 311,591,917.
Australia's population is approximately 22,328,800.
Now that is a vast difference.
It is no wonder Americans are ahead of us in somethings, such as literature.
There are more people experiencing it.
That doesn't mean we can't learn, and it doesn't mean we won't improve.
In all truth, these are two things that will and are, already happening very well!
I have to say this also. Americans are hard workers. They do not shirk their responsibilities, and that is something we need to improve on, to succeed.
I speak from experience about this, because I worked there.
Instead of an eight hour day that I had worked here, it was more of a fifteen hour day there, and no one complained. They have a pride in striving for their country.
Lets not feel disheartened about them thinking they are better than us.
At the moment they are. However, we are on our way to better accomplishments.
One day we may even lead the world of literacy.
I was once invited to a church in the town where I lived in Tennessee. Excitedly I was watched for my reaction to the beautiful beach overheads, and the music.
"Well, what did you think?" I was asked at the end...
I didn't want to hurt any feelings, but I had to tell the truth.
"Well," I said as kindly as I could. "Those beaches are Australian and the songs, were from Hillsong." It was so hard not to laugh out loud....
But then, I laugh at almost everything.
The singing in the church I attended, was fabulous, and I learned a few different songs.
Lets unit and grow together helping one another, and improving our world.
After all, Jesus said the most important thing we can have, is love...
Love and Blessings to all. CML
